A first date in Austin, Texas took an unexpected turn after a woman said a casual conversation about Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey led her date to make a remark that left her stunned. According to the woman, the man claimed he didn’t want to see the film because he believed Helen of Troy had been portrayed by a Black actress, before telling her he didn’t think Black women could be beautiful.
The clip comes by way of TikToker Grayson Smith, who typically creates lifestyle content with a strong emphasis on dating, relationships, wellness, and day-in-the-life storytelling. In her latest TikTok, the Austin-based lifestyle creator recounts a “nightmare” first date at Barton Springs that quickly took an unexpected turn.
Recalling the encounter, she explained that the pair had been discussing Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film The Odyssey when the conversation took an unexpected turn. “I was on a first date the other day and it was going fine, and I brought up the new Odyssey movie. I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m so excited to go see it.’ He was like, ‘Oh, it’s actually gonna be a pass for me.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, why?’” she said.
According to the creator, her date replied, “Because Helen of Troy is a Black woman.” She said she was immediately taken aback by the response, adding, “I looked at him and I was just like, ‘Huh?’” Continuing on, the man allegedly goes on to say, “Yeah, she’s supposed to be the most beautiful woman in the world. She started the war.“
Describing her reaction, Grayson said, “Literally, my stomach dropped.” She recalled looking at her date before asking, “You don’t think a Black woman can do that?” She claimed he responded with a simple, “No.” Grayson said the exchange left her feeling “sick” and “uncomfortable.” Deciding she didn’t want to continue, she told her date she was leaving Barton Springs and ended the date early.
Reflecting on the experience, Grayson went on to say that she’s making more of an effort not to give her time and energy to people she never wants to be associated with. She added that she felt “scared,” explaining that leaving a date early isn’t always easy, before concluding the TikTok by telling viewers to “normalize immediately leaving” if their date says “something weird.”
Viewers Say She Made the Right Decision
Many viewers said they were equally stunned by the man’s comments. One person wrote, “Way he was comfortable being so passively racist is nuts.” Another commenter pointed out that he had been referring to actress Lupita Nyong’o, writing, “He was talking about this woman btw,” alongside a photo of the Oscar-winning actress.
The post prompted others to praise Nyong’o’s appearance, with one person replying, “I’d go to war right the [expletive] now,” while another added, “She’s not normal beautiful, she’s strikingly beautiful.” Elsewhere, another viewer drew a comparison to other casting debates, writing, “They can’t stand Helen of Troy being black, but are A-OK with Jesus being white…“
The video has continued to gain traction on TikTok, with many viewers praising Grayson for trusting her instincts and leaving the date when she felt uncomfortable.
